Fleet admiral (United States)

Fleet admiral
Fleet admiral;
	Flag of the fleet admiral
	Fleet admiral collar device, shoulder board, and sleeve stripes.
Country	United States
Service branch	United States Navy
Abbreviation	FADM
Rank	Five-star
NATO rank code	OF-10
Formation	December 14, 1944
Next lower rank	Admiral
Equivalent ranks	General of the Army (U.S. Army); General of the Air Force (USAF);

Fleet admiral^[1] (abbreviated FADM)^[2] is a five-star flag officer rank in the United States Navy whose rewards uniquely include active duty pay for life.^[3] Fleet admiral ranks immediately above admiral and is equivalent to General of the Army and General of the Air Force.

Although it is a current and authorized rank, no U.S. Navy officer holds it presently. Only four World War II era officers have ever held the rank: William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King, Chester W. Nimitz, and William Halsey Jr. Leahy, King, and Nimitz were promoted to the rank in December 1944, followed by Halsey in December 1945. While all four men effectively retired in the late 1940s, the rank of fleet admiral is for life. The last active fleet admiral was Nimitz, who died in 1966.

^ s:Public Law 78-482 Pub.L. 78-482 – To establish the grade of Fleet Admiral for the United States Navy; to establish the grade of General of the Army, and for other purposes.
^ United States Navy Uniform Regulations (January 1998), page 211
^ "Public Law 333, 79th Congress". Frequently Asked Questions. Naval History & Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2012-09-12.

[1] s:Public Law 78-482 Pub.L. 78-482 – To establish the grade of Fleet Admiral for the United States Navy; to establish the grade of General of the Army, and for other purposes.

[2] United States Navy Uniform Regulations (January 1998), page 211

[3] "Public Law 333, 79th Congress". Frequently Asked Questions. Naval History & Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2012-09-12.

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